On Friday, October 11, Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) Secretary Yvonne Hao, Undersecretary Ashley Stolba, and their team spent eight hours touring the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district.
I was so pleased to join many of my colleagues in welcoming this dynamic duo to our region. We celebrated critical investments made by EOED in Hatfield and Amherst; showcased regional tourism destinations and economic drivers: Mike’s Maze in Sunderland and Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield; and had an extended visit to UMass Amherst to hear about new initiatives including UMass’s Food Science “Future of Food Initiative” and the Center for Human Health and Performance.
Read on for a summary of our adventures.
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We began the day in Hatfield, celebrating the completion of the Route 5 Water & Sewer Infrastructure Improvements Project, which expands water and sewer service along Route 5 enabling expansion for existing business and opportunity for new development.
Town Administrator Marlene Michonski and Hatfield Select Board Chair Diana Szynal organized a beautiful ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion and to thank EOED for providing funding to support this project not once, not twice, but three separate times as unforeseen needs arose and costs escalated. The town also recognized and thanked the Hatfield neighbors who have endured years of construction outside their doors. Secretary Hao, Undersecretary Stolba, and I were joined by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, Western Mass Director for the Governor Kristen Elechko, Rural Affairs Director Anne Gobi, members from the Town’s Select Board, Hatfield residents, and USA Waste and Recycling which is located along the sewer line extension and hosted the ceremony.
As a gesture intended to capture the enormity of EOED’s work and commitment to Hatfield, I presented homemade medals (in the style of what an Olympic athlete might wear) to the EOED team, state colleagues, and to the Hatfield Select Board to commemorate the occasion and help our state colleagues remember the important role they play in supporting local projects in my district.
Our next stop was the award-winning Mike’s Maze at Warner Farm to see this year’s circus-themed maze (open now through November 5). We heard from Mike and Dave Wissemann about how the maze came to be and the challenges and opportunities of running a farm business in this current climate. Secretary Hao proudly wore a Mike’s Maze hat throughout the visit and managed to hit the target with the potato cannon. Representative Natalie Blais, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce & Regional Tourism Council Executive Director Jessye Deane, and Kristen Elechko joined us at Mike’s Maze.
Our group then drove to visit the one and only Yankee Candle Village. Jessye Deane and Yankee Candle Regional Director Wade Bassett took us on a tour of the facilities in South Deerfield. We were joined by Deerfield Select Board Chair Tim Hilchey and Acting Town Administrator Chris Dunne. We discussed the impact of large employers on the economic development of the region. It’s hard not to be enchanted by the snow flurries that land on your head as you walk through the village.
After that, we gathered at UMass Amherst for a tour with Chancellor Javier Reyes and a discussion about the opportunities for regional economic development underway at UMass. The group welcomed Lily Stowe-Alekman from Representative Domb’s office for this part of the day. We discussed the creation of the UMass Office of Economic Development, led by Vice Chancellor John Kennedy and Executive Director Tony Maroulis, and the Department of Food Science’s “Future of Food” initiative, about creating a food science hub in western Massachusetts to drive economic development in the region. Finally, we concluded our visit to UMass Amherst with a tour of the Center for Human Health and Performance.
Finally, the intrepid EOED team rounded out the day with three Amherst visits. First to visit the site of the planned University Drive and Amity Street Roundabout, which was just awarded MassWorks funding. Then to celebrate the Pomeroy Village Roundabout with a ribbon cutting. We ended the day with a tour of the Hickory Ridge Conservation Area and discussed the town’s vision for a fire station, community center, affordable housing, and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities.
